One of the most anticipated features of the forthcoming Vita is it’s second thumb nub, to enable console-like experiences like Resistance: Burning Skies on the go. The 3DS of course only has one stick, so although it is capable of FPS type games using the touch pad as a control device, hand cramps and lack of precision make this a far from ideal scenario. Hold on to your stylus though portable gaming fans, Nintendo has confirmed that an ‘expansion kit’ will be due out soon that will add an additional circle pad to the systems repertoire. Pictures of the Device were shown in the gaming magazine Famitsu.

Rumours have been going around for a while now that Nintendo have some pretty big news on the way regarding their fledgling handheld, with some commentators expecting an announcement regarding a 3DS Lite. This was always unlikely however so close to launch and with Nintendo hoping to profit from their price cut and lack of Sony competition this holiday period.

The ‘Expansion Slide Pad’ works as a kind of docking station for the 3DS itself, and also adds another trigger button as well as the second thumb stick. The add-on was announced alongside confirmation of a new Monster Hunter game for the 3DS, so it is unknown whether the extra control options will be used solely for that game, or for future Nintendo and third-party releases.

The danger with any accessory though is that not all owners will get one, meaning that all future games would need to be coded in a way that only offers the second circle pad as an option. This could make for a very interesting console style Metroid Prime type game however which the 3DS certainly has the grunt to pull off. Allowing for a touch pad or second circle stick would make for an interesting control scheme more akin to Metroid Prime: Corruption on the Wii.

What do you make of the news? Is it the final extra boost the 3DS needs, a stupid add-on that no-one will buy or just extremely ugly? Lets us know.